Political parties urge govt to ensure operationalisation of mills in Pondy

Puducherry, Jul 8 : All political parties in the Union Territory on Sunday night urged the government to take immediate steps with the Centre to renovate and bring the AFT mills, Swadeshi cotton mills and Sri Bharathi mills in operation in Puducherry.

A resolution to this effect was adopted at an all-party meeting convened by DMK (North) here in which Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his Cabinet Colleagues, representatives of the DMK, CPI, CPI-M, MDMK and among others participated.

The meeting, before adopting the resolution, discussed in detail the functioning of the three mills started during the French regime and how it had earned Revenue to the territorial administration as well as to the central government by way of foreign exchange through exports.

It felt that the revamping of the mills would help to provide direct employment to 25,000 persons and indirect employment to 5,000 people which would enhance the Revenue of the government which is reeling under financial crisis.

Speaking on the occasion, Narayanasamy said that the government had allotted funds in the last budget to pay lay-off salary to the mill workers which was blocked by the Lt.Governor. Funds would be allocated in the current budget too, he said adding that it was decided to sell a portion of the AFT property to close bank loans.

The Chief Minister said an expert committee would be constituted to renovate and make the mills operational and Union Home Minister and Textile minister would be approached in person with the recommendations of the committee on the mills issue. Steps would also be taken to start a textile park here, he added.(UNI)